"Today was my last day at Mythic. For the past three and a half years or so, I've had the great fortune to come to a job with a team of wonderful people, always working to improve on what is still one of the best damn MMOs ever built. We truly are a different breed, always having to deal with flak coming from all directions, but always loving our jobs even though the job is like a bucking bronco and we're just along for the crazy, crazy ride.

Unfortunately, harsh economic realities and the nature of the video games business mean layoffs happen.

My immediate plans are to get soused (probably for much of the weekend), then after that it's time to see what new adventures might lie in my future!"​

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

another one leaving? how many people still working on UO 4, 5 top?
shortly there will be noone left if they keep firing people :/

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I'd take exception to the term 'firing people'. Fired implies doing a poor job. Layoffs means position eliminated. There is a big difference.

Once again, its a shame all this developer time is spent on things not helping our game. I'd like to see new players, new subs, more money to expand the team but when time is spent on town loyalty, armor revamp, refinements.... None of this stuff brings new players and even existing players don't care for it. It is a downward spiral that continues.....

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

another one leaving? how many people still working on UO 4, 5 top?
shortly there will be noone left if they keep firing people :/

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Bleak, Kyronix, the new art guy, Messana, a community manager shared with all the other Mythic games, and that other producer guy that actually produces nothing.

From this row of people, I think Phoenix least deserved to be laid off Unless he was the fool that came up with refinements and messed up mage armor, in that case I chase him out with a pitchfork and torch

Stratics Veteran

Really sorry to hear you are leaving, many thanks for the endless hours of enjoyment you have helped bring the community. I shall join you in getting soused in your honor. I tip my pixelated hat to you sir or madam.

Stratics Veteran

Seems that it is not just UO's team that is impacted, it's a company wide thing. Likely that all teams got ordered to reduce their size by a certain percentage.

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Oh, I'm sure.

But it's still a dumb decision that hurts a title that's making money. (By the way, before someone asks, I draw this conclusion partly from the fact that UO hasn't been cut yet -- and we all can guess that EA would kill UO with glee the second it stopped turning a profit --, and from a phone conversation one of our posters claimed to have with an EA phone person. Basically whomever it was called EA support -- when such a thing existed -- and raised a stink about if UO was still supported, and a supervisor blurted out something likes, yes it was, we wouldn't stop supporting one of the few titles still making money.)

My feeling is that if corporations can be treated as persons in terms of their having free speech rights, make political contributions, and the legal authority to do many things that natural persons can do, that they should be treated as persons for other purposes as well.

For example, being called idiotic when it does idiotic things.

I also kinda wish the victims of this stupid **** would stop justifying it, though I understand why Phoenix would do such a thing.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

I also kinda wish the victims of this stupid **** would stop justifying it, though I understand why Phoenix would do such a thing.
-Galen's player

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Yep, the moment you say anything bad about your (former) employer for the abuse he put you through, no-one else will hire you. Cause 90% of the companies abuse their employees in one way or another and they don't want to hire troublemakers. Been there, done that.

Farewell, friend, didn't know you, nor read about things you've worked on in-game, but you among many former colleagues were the artery keeping this game alive throughout all of our lives.
It should concern us all when the foundation begins to rattle (ducks & runs for cover).

On a side note I hope his shoes will be filled with someone equally as competent, For the Life of UO.

Mike, you going to go out and try to be a professional gambler (again)? I seem to remember some of your fellow AoS-era staff commenting back then on your first departure that you were going to try your hand at gambling tournaments - or were they just joking from you having taken their paychecks in games after work?

I can't tell you how disappointed I am to know you're leaving us. One of the only developers left who was around when the original code was written. You were one of the only archaeologists still there to interpret the code. ACK!

Phoenix aka Vex, please tell us, did you finish working on the currency issue, making gold account bound? I was pretty sure this was one of your many projects, and would like some feedback. I haven't heard anything since the 15th anniversary party.

Also I knew it was possible you were adding some form of Texas Hold'Em to the Fire Island Casino, will that still happen?

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

This sux.... I for one do hope you find a new position soon. I knew EA was talking more staff cuts but UO is so understaffed right now I didnt see where they could cut more....
EA needs its head examined... What idiot over there is running the HR....
They are making this sound alot like a sinking ship... EA is not that bad off...
If I was them I'd cut a few of the exe's out not talent that is bringing in the money....

Now we have a lady who appears more apt as a UO player, and Bleak. Who seems competant. I don't know anyone else, that communicaton manager guy should be sent back to burger king for such a poor job. Maybe he's someones nephew. Embarrassing to let someone go who actually knows what they are doing. Clear house, let's start fresh.

Stratics VeteranStratics LegendCampaign Supporter

I can't tell you how disappointed I am to know you're leaving us. One of the only developers left who was around when the original code was written. You were one of the only archaeologists still there to interpret the code. ACK!

Phoenix aka Vex, please tell us, did you finish working on the currency issue, making gold account bound? I was pretty sure this was one of your many projects, and would like some feedback. I haven't heard anything since the 15th anniversary party.

Also I knew it was possible you were adding some form of Texas Hold'Em to the Fire Island Casino, will that still happen?

I hate to bring this stuff up now, but inquiring minds want to know.

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You said exxactly what I feel/am thinking. Nothing else to say really. You will be missed Vex/Phoenix

Stratics Veteran

I've been pretty harsh in regards to some of the interaction that takes place in these fluff and stuff interviews that some of the staff have given but let me go on record saying that EA lost a very good man today.

Mike, you will be missed. we had a very good discussion about the martingale system and how it related to the casino that was designed and in my mind it was one of the most thought inducing informative information exchanges that i've seen these past 6 years i've played this game.

Please tip a glass for me this weekend and I will surely pop a good bottle of Cab tonite in your honor. Good things happen to good people so I'm sure you will land on your feet. All the best to you my friend and thank you very much for all the contributions you have made to the Lands of Sosaria and take applause to all the peoples whose lives you have made better in bringing them daily enjoyment in what seems to becoming a more joyless world by the day.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

Layoffs? Seriously? So now instead of a team of what, six, there's a team of five -- or is it five to four? Seriously? They couldn't shove a couple of DAoC or Warhammer or BiomythicUnderwear folk under the bus?

I mean, seriously... you don't layoff people from small DevTeams. At this point, even I'm waiting for the bell to toll on UO. At some point, there aren't enough people to do anything for the game at all.

Stratics Veteran

Layoffs? Seriously? So now instead of a team of what, six, there's a team of five -- or is it five to four? Seriously? They couldn't shove a couple of DAoC or Warhammer or BiomythicUnderwear folk under the bus?

I mean, seriously... you don't layoff people from small DevTeams. At this point, even I'm waiting for the bell to toll on UO. At some point, there aren't enough people to do anything for the game at all.

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Yeah that's pretty much what I thought....Sooner or later UO dies simply because there won't be enough people to do even basic work on it.

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